BIS Registration for Fibre Reinforced Cement Products IS 14871:2000

If you manufacture fiber-reinforced cement sheets in India or plan to import them, there’s one thing you cannot ignore anymore: BIS certification is now mandatory.

This is not optional. Not a quality badge. Not a marketing add-on.

It is a legal requirement under a quality control order issued by the government of India.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified the Asbestos or Fibre Cement-Based Products (Quality Control) Order 2024 under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act of 2016. Under this order fiber-reinforced cement products covered by IS 14871:2000 must conform to the standard and carry the ISI mark before they can be sold in the Indian market

If you are in this sector, compliance is no longer something to “plan later.” It must come first.

What Exactly Is Covered Under IS 14871:2000?

IS 14871:2000 applies to fiber-reinforced cement products particularly long corrugated or asymmetrical section sheets and fittings used for roofing and cladding

In simple terms this includes the sheets you see on industrial roofs, warehouses, sheds, and rural structures. These sheets are exposed to:

• Wind loads
• Heavy rainfall
• Temperature variations.
• Mechanical impact

The standard lays down technical requirements for:

• Dimensions and tolerances
• Breaking load and strength performance
• Workmanship and finish
• Physical characteristics
• Sampling and testing methods

The goal is straightforward: your product must perform consistently under expected service conditions

If your sheets crack prematurely, fail load tests or deviate from specified thickness and dimensions, they will not qualify

Read More: BIS Registration or Certificate for UPS and Inverters in India

Why Did the Government Make It Mandatory?

The safety of the public is directly affected by the materials used in construction. Bad roofing sheets can cause buildings to fall down, leak become weak and cost money

The quality control order ensures that:

• Only compliant products enter the Indian market
• Manufacturers follow uniform performance standards
• Consumers and contractors receive reliable materials

The order was notarized in March 2024 with implementation deadlines based on enterprise size. Larger manufacturers were required to comply first, followed by small and micro enterprises within extended timelines

This phased approach gave industry time to adjust. But as of now, compliance is compulsory.

If You Manufacture in India, What Must You Do?

You must obtain a BIS license under Scheme-I (ISI Mark Scheme).

Here is how the process actually works

First, you confirm that your product clearly falls under IS 14871:2000. Misclassification delays applications.

Second, you send product samples to a BIS-recognized laboratory for testing. Tests generally include:

• Dimensional verification
• Breaking load test
• Physical property evaluation
• Workmanship checks

If your product fails even one critical test parameter, the process pauses until corrective action is taken.

Third, you prepare documentation. This is where many companies struggle.

You will need:

• Complete product specifications
• Manufacturing process flow
• List of raw materials
• Quality control plan
• Details of in-house testing equipment
• Calibration certificates
• Factory layout

Your documentation must match your real manufacturing setup. If your papers say one thing and the factory shows another, inspection becomes difficult.

Fourth, you submit the application through the BIS Manak Online portal.

Fifth, BIS officials conduct a factory inspection. They review:

• Production capability
• In-house testing arrangements
• Quality control systems
• Recordkeeping practices

They may draw samples during inspection. Only after BIS is satisfied will they grant you a certification mark license. That license authorizes you to use the ISI mark.

Read More BIS Registration for Ferrules for water services IS 2692: 1989

If You Are an Importer

Foreign manufacturers must also obtain BIS certification before their products can be sold in India

The product must be tested and approved under BIS rules and the foreign manufacturer must comply with inspection requirements

Importing without certification can lead to customs clearance issues and legal action

Certification Is Not a One-Time Event.

Many businesses think once the license is granted, the job is done

It is not

BIS conducts surveillance inspections. You must:

• Maintain consistent quality
• Keep testing equipment calibrated.
• Maintain production and test records
• Renew the license before expiry

If product quality drops, suspension or cancellation can happen. Compliance is continuous.

Where Applications Usually Get Stuck

From practical experience, delays often happen because of the following:

• Breaking load tests fail
• Dimensional tolerances exceed limits
• Calibration certificates are outdated
• Quality control procedures exist on paper but are not implemented
• Factory staff are unprepared for inspection

None of these are rare. All of them are preventable

Preparation matters more than speed

Conclusion

The Asbestos or Fibre Cement-Based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024, issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, makes it mandatory for fiber-reinforced cement products to be registered with the BIS in India. 

This requirement ensures structural safety, performance consistency, and market discipline. If you want to make or import these products without regulatory problems, you need to treat BIS certification as a necessary step, not an afterthought

For clear guidance, structured documentation and smooth execution of your BIS certification process, consider working with Agile Regulatory. The right support can make a complicated regulatory process easier to handle